Retro Lookback: Snowboard Kids

Developer: Racdym
Publisher: Atlus
Platforms and Release dates (US): Nintendo 64 (May 3, 1998)
Genre: Racing

Snowboard Kids is Atlus' take on Mario Kart, so to speak, and I find it to be entertaining.

The gameplay is straight racing, you start at the top and have to be the first to the bottom, but you have to take a lift back to the top again and complete the required number of laps first. First to complete all the laps first wins. To help, there are two different kinds of items to get on the track. Shot items are the Red Boxes, you get 3 shots of a random projectile to shoot at your opponents, from Bombs to Parachutes. Items come in Blue Boxes, you get a random item to use to aid you, hinder your opponents, or do both. You can carry both a Shot and an Item at the same time, firing shots with the Z button and Items with the B button. You have to pay 100G to get an Item or a Shot, you can earn G by collecting loose coins on the course worth 100G each or by successfully landing tricks. There are 9 tracks available, from the standard snowy mountain to more unorthodox locales such as an amusements park and a grass valley, 6 are from the start and 3 are unlockable. There is also a selection of 6 characters with different stats, with 1 being unlockable. You can also select different boards to use, Freestyle boards are low speed but high tricks and cornering, All-Around boards are even in every stat, and Alpine boards are high speed but low tricks and cornering. You can also get 3 special boards with unique stats. The standard race mode is a 4 person race, with CPU players filling in for Non-Entrants. Single Player has a few additional modes of play. Speed Cross is a 1 Lap Time Trial on the first 3 courses with Speed Fans scattered on the course, Shot Cross is a 1 Lap run on the first 3 courses where you have to shoot all the snowmen and finish as fast as you can. Trick Attack takes place on a special course where you have to earn the highest point total you can from tricks and finish within 3 minutes. You can also do a standard 1 Lap Time Trial on all 9 courses, you are given 1 Speed Fan item to use to help you achieve the fastest 1 Lap time. The gameplay is different from Mario Mart in ways, and I find it to be fun.

A little while later, an enhanced port was made for the Playstation, but only for Japan. It had enhanced graphics, more voice clips, more characters, and other things. A sequel was made also, which I may cover in a future post.

Bottom Line: Snowboard Kids is like Mario Kart on Snowboards, and a fun game at that. This game is worth a Play.